Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-07-30
NEu.,ouc ON Pcnnuts.

NEaIiGnc on Peanuts.
Until the Hon. William Malone saw his
opportunity to put his Senatorial Office and
nonors into market in trade with the re-
publicans the excellence and beauty of the
existing tariff had never occurred to him.
When elected to the Senate of the United
States ~ the democratic Legislature Of Vir
ginia, Malone was, or pretended to be, in
favor of the traditional democratic policy Of
a tariff for revenue, for which Virginia has
almost invariably given her votes in Con-
gress and in Presidential elections. But no
sooner did Malone conclude his bargain
with the republican Senators for control of
the Federal spois in Vir. .inia than he threw
ii his remnant of democratic principles
along with the deal. 1t did not require
much further perversion to make the chief
debt-repuGiator of Virginia q convert to
turiif robbery in its worst forms. man
whose only prominent political policy con-
sisted in Reputation of a public debt could
not be expected TO balk much at any other
species Of public robbery.
In conversation at the American Protec
tive Tariff League in New York, reported in
the Tribune, Gen. Malone compia!ned that
the usual prctectionist literature was over
ihe head OF the average Virginian." There
was nothing, Malone said more beautiful
than Mr. Blaines speeches IL favor OF
Bessemer steel but the Virginia negroes
could not feel the force of the argument.
For that matter, there are great
MANY other people in the United States
besides the Virginia republicans who cannot
appreciate the excellence of q system which
has enabled the Bessemer combination 10
eXtort upward of twelve million dollars over
and above honest and legitimate prolits
from American consumers within the last
twelve months. Bat Malone, who is mucn
above the average Nirginian" in intelsi-
gence, can readily understand how such q
species Of sxtortion and plumber operates
for The discouragement of railroad enterprise
in tho United States.
There is one thing, however, Mr. Malone
assures tho Tariff League, which the colored
republicans of Virginia do understand, and
that is the duty on peanuts. He says
''When they are told that there is n duty OF
twenty-five cents q bushel on peanuts, that
keeps out African peanuts, they understand
it," These average Virginians" may only
dimy perceive how they are protected by
the taxes which tho tariff assesses upon their
salt, their clothing, their coarse blankets,
their shoes, the glass in their windows, the
delf on their shelves, their salt fish and their
rice, the hags that contain their meal, their
farm implements and the medicines for their
sick hat when they arc reminded of the
kindly care OF the republican party in pro.
tecting them from the dangerous compcti
ton of the pauper peanuts of Africa they re.
ioice in the blessings of the tariff system. 1t
is quite evident that the American Tariff
League in It's exclusive devotion TO the BeS-
semer steel combination and other forms OF
monopoly peculiar to the North, has neg
lected the peanut issue. A few prize essays
on the influence OF the tariff in developing
the peanut industry in Virginia, and on the
necessity of maintaining the peanut duty in
order 10 prevent the competition OF the pau
per negroes OF Dahomey and of the Soudan.
would be timely contributions TO protection
ist literature.
Gen. Malone further informed the League
that the average Virglnan" wants the in
ternal revenue tax repealed. He says that
.'this is tax on our people," and that no
other argument is needed than to show
them that by cheapening their whisky and
tobacco "they can buy something else with
the difference" Nothing could be clearer
and more practical than this exposition of
tariff doctrine. When those necessaries Of
life, whisky and tobacco, shall have been
made abundant and cheap By repeal
of the taxes upon them, what will it matter
to the average Virginian" how high the
taxes may be piled upon salt, rice, clothing,
blankets, carpets, glass, earthenware and
other like luxuries? There will be no ne
cessity to appeal to the American Tariff
League for any contribution from The $780,
600 fund for aid in enforcing this argument
for a repeal of the internal revenue system
of taxation. Hon. Samuel J. Randall has
from time to time brought his statesman
like mind to bear in favor of repeal Of the
internal taxes on whisky and tobacco and
in favor of increased duties upon such lux
uries as tin plate. BESIDES, is not the coun-
,ry already familiar with the eloquent ap-
peals of Judge Kelley in behalf of the poor
mans tobacco pipe and the camphor bottle
of the wife and mother? Gen. Malone has
assured the Tariff League that If the demo-
Gratis will accept this issue of free whisky
and protection to peanuts Virginia can. be
carried in 1855 for any republican. This
may possibly be true; but, even if it be not
true, the mere presenting of such an issue
shows how wide ia the distance that sepa-
rates the Virginia of Malone from the Vir-
ginia OF Washington, jefferson and Madison.
Phil. Record.
.sThe leprous distillment whose effect